Man City failed to make most of key battle vs Liverpool and paid the price

A Manchester City win in this game at such an early stage of the season was never going to be decisive in the title race, but if anything it was a result that was expected. There was more pressure on City to win, with a trip to Anfield to come later in the season.

It remains to be seen whether a title race between these two teams is still alive in March, but if it is you wonder how big this game might come to be seen then.

In the recent history of these fixtures, this was hardly a classic, but it has to go down as a missed opportunity for City. They never hit top gear but led at half-time and should have taken the contest on from there.

City player ratings vs Liverpool

City vs Liverpool as it happened

Instead, they were strangely passive for much of the second half. Sensing a side not doing enough to kill off their rivals, the atmosphere inside the Etihad quietened a little as well.

City did enough to hold Liverpool at arms length most of the time and they did have a couple of chances to extend their lead, but it had ceased to be a game being played on their terms. Trent Alexander-Arnold's equaliser came out of nowhere, but Liverpool had found it too easy to stay in the game and as a result there was always the risk of an equaliser.

Maybe the key moment came when Chris Kavanagh ruled out Ruben Dias' goal, after Alisson had dropped a corner straight to him. The referee felt Manuel Akanji had fouled the goalkeeper, but it was the kind of soft decision that so often goes the way of a goalkeeper.

In the end, Pep Guardiola's toughest selection decision for the visit of Liverpool was made for him. Jack Grealish's illness meant Jeremy Doku kept his place and we will never know which way the City boss was leaning.

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